Will Heating Cost More in Alamogordo This Winter?

Probably a little, yes. New Mexico Gas Company's cost of gas for November 2026 is $0.3227 per therm, up from $0.2505 per therm in November 2025, an increase of about 29%. On top of that, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects households in the West that heat with natural gas to spend about 7% more this winter than last, mostly because it is forecasting a much colder winter than last year's unusually warm one.

What is New Mexico Gas Company charging for gas this November?

The cost of gas is the part of your bill that covers the natural gas itself. According to New Mexico Gas Company's cost of gas page, the company does not make a profit on the gas it buys for customers; those costs are passed straight through. It is only one piece of your bill, though, alongside the company's regular service charges.

Here is what that looks like in plain numbers. If your home uses 100 therms in November, the cost of gas portion would be about $32.27 this year, compared with about $25.05 last November. That is about $7.22 more for that one line, before any other charges. The good news is that the December estimate is a bit lower than November, and well below last December's $0.4472.

What does the federal winter forecast say for the West?

The EIA's Winter Fuels Outlook 2026 to 2027, published October 6, 2026, covers November through March. New Mexico falls in its West region. The EIA expects natural gas prices in the West to be about 8% lower than last winter, but it expects Western homes to use about 17% more gas because of colder weather. Its forecast counts 25% more heating degree days in the West than last winter.

The EIA also notes a strong El Niño pattern this winter, which could make actual temperatures swing away from its forecast in either direction.

How can you keep heating bills down?

A few simple habits make a real difference in our desert climate, where afternoons are often mild and nights get cold:

• Set the thermostat a little lower at night and when you are away, and let the afternoon sun help warm south-facing rooms.
• Change the furnace filter and consider a furnace check before the coldest weeks.
• Seal drafts around doors and windows with weatherstripping or caulk.
• Watch the water heater, which also runs on gas in many homes.
• Ask your utility about payment options if a big winter bill would be hard to absorb all at once.

Where can you get help paying heating bills?

If money is tight this winter, there is help. I put together the local options, including state energy assistance, in Help Paying Heating Bills in Otero County. For electric bill questions, see my post on PNM bills in Alamogordo.

What does this mean for homeowners and buyers?

For homeowners, it is a good year to budget a little extra for December through February and to knock out easy energy fixes now. For buyers, utility costs are part of what a home really costs each month. When you are looking at homes, it is fair to ask about past utility bills and the age of the furnace and water heater, and your home inspection will flag insulation or window issues. If you are moving here from a warmer place, our winters are sunny but nights often dip below freezing, so plan for it. My Moving to Alamogordo guide has more on what to expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gas costs are from New Mexico Gas Company's cost of gas page, and forecasts are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Winter Fuels Outlook published October 6, 2026, both checked October 30, 2026. The 100 therm example is my own math and covers only the cost of gas portion of a bill.